Columbarium, particularly for accommodating cinerary urns

ABSTRACT

A columbarium, particularly for accommodating cinerary urns, comprising:
         a frame in which containment niches for the cinerary urns are formed in a honeycomb arrangement,   a panel for covering at least one portion of a face of the columbarium, onto which a plurality of openings for accessing the niches opens.       

     Elements for moving the panel are also provided which can be actuated for passing:
         from a first configuration, in which the panel covers the portion of the face, concealing the access openings,   to a second configuration, in which the panel is spaced from the portion of the face, to expose the access openings,   and vice versa.

The present invention relates to a columbarium, particularly foraccommodating cinerary urns.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Columbariums are currently known which have a frame in which niches foraccommodating cinerary urns are formed in a honeycomb arrangement.

Such columbariums substantially have a vertical parallelepiped-likestructure, in which the niches formed therein have access openings thatopen onto one face of the columbarium.

The access openings can be closed by means of plates that substantiallyhang from the frame of the columbarium and generally comprise ceramictiles on which sacred images, painted or printed thereon, are usuallydepicted and are arranged mutually adjacent so as to cover the face ofthe columbarium.

This type of columbarium has some drawbacks, which include the fact thatthe plates that cover the niches of the columbarium hang from the frameof such columbarium by means of hooks, and in order to disengage them itis necessary to use a suitable tool that supports the tile while it ismoved during release.

Moreover, currently this type of columbarium does not ensure that theniches cannot be violated; it is in fact sufficient to have the tooladapted to remove the covering tiles of the niches in order to open themand access them.

Moreover, since the tiles are generally heavy, opening the niches is noteasy.

Another drawback of these columbariums is that the sacred image shown onthe face of the columbarium is interrupted by the edges of the tiles,which when arranged side by side form the surface of the face, to thefull disadvantage of its aesthetics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide a columbariumparticularly for accommodating cinerary urns that allows easier accessto the urn containment niches.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to ensure that the nichesthat accommodate the cinerary urns cannot be violated by unauthorizedusers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a columbarium that isstructurally simple and easy to use and can be manufactured with lowcosts.

This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparenthereinafter, are achieved by a columbarium, particularly foraccommodating cinerary urns, comprising a frame in which containmentniches for said cinerary urns are formed in a honeycomb arrangement,characterized in that it comprises a panel for covering at least oneportion of the face of said columbarium, onto which a plurality ofopenings for accessing said niches opens, means for moving said panelbeing provided which can be actuated for passing:

-   -   from a first configuration, in which said panel covers said at        least one face portion, to conceal said access openings,    -   to a second configuration, in which said panel is spaced from        said at least one face portion, to expose said access openings,    -   and vice versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will becomebetter apparent from the following detailed description of a preferredbut not exclusive embodiment of the columbarium according to theinvention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a columbarium according to the inventionin its first configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the columbarium according to theinvention in its second configuration;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the columbarium according to theinvention in its first configuration;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the columbarium according to theinvention in its first configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It is noted that anything found to be already known during the patentingprocess is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of adisclaimer.

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 10 generallydesignates a columbarium, particularly for accommodating cinerary urns11, which comprises a frame 12 in which niches 13 for accommodating thecinerary urns 11 are formed in a honeycomb arrangement.

The columbarium 10 according to the invention comprises a panel 14 forcovering at least one portion 15 a of a face 15 of the columbarium 10,onto which a plurality of openings 16 for accessing the niches 13 opens.

Means 17 for moving the panel 14 are provided and can be actuated fortransition:

-   -   from a first configuration, in which the panel 14 covers the        portion 15 a of the face 15, concealing the access openings 16,    -   to a second configuration, in which the panel 14 is spaced from        the portion 15 a of the face 15, leaving the access openings 16        exposed,    -   and vice versa.

Advantageously, doors 18 for closing the access openings 16 are providedwhich are hinged on the face 15 and can be closed independently of eachother onto the access openings 16.

Conveniently, there are locks 19 for locking the doors 18 so that theyare closed on the access openings 16 of the niches 13 in order toprevent access to the niches 13 by unauthorized users.

Conveniently, the movement means 17 comprise at least one hinge 20 forconnecting the panel 14 to the frame 12.

Preferably, the frame 12 is substantially shaped like a parallelepipedand is vertical, and has, proximate to its upper end, the panel 14hinged so that it can oscillate.

Conveniently, the movement means 17 comprise means for supporting thepanel 14 so that it is spaced, by lifting, from the face 15 in thesecond configuration.

The niches 13 are conveniently likewise shaped like parallelepipeds andtheir access openings 16 open onto the face 15 and can be closed by thedoors 18.

Advantageously, the supporting means comprise pistons 21, preferably ofthe gas-operated type, which are associated with the panel 14 and withthe frame 12 substantially at its face 15.

Conveniently, in the second configuration, the pistons 21 support thepanel 14, holding it raised with respect to the face 15 of the frame 12.

The frame 12 and the doors 18 are preferably made of stainless steel.

Moreover, the panel 14 conveniently comprises a supporting frame 22 fora plate 23 for concealing the niches 13 in the first configuration.

The concealment plate 23 is advantageously made of transparent material,conveniently a plastic material that is transparent in use or glass orthe like, and has a first substantially opaque face 24, which isdirected toward the face 15 of the frame 12 when the columbarium 10 isin the first configuration.

The first face 24 conveniently has an illustration, which is visiblethrough the concealment plate 23, which faces a second face 25 of theconcealment plate 23 that lies opposite the first face 24.

Such plastic material is advantageously polymethyl methacrylate, forexample of the type commonly known by the trade name Plexiglas.

In an alternative embodiment, the concealment plate 23 is convenientlymade of morainic material.

Advantageously, the frame 12 comprises a stabilizer step 26, whichprotrudes from the face 15 at the ground resting region of the frame 12.

The stabilizer step 26 is designed to give stability to the frame 12 tocontrast its tipping toward the side of the face 15.

In practice it has been shown that the invention achieves the proposedaim and objects, providing a columbarium, particularly for accommodatingcinerary urns, which allows easier access to the niches that accommodatethe urns, at the same time ensuring that they cannot be violated byunauthorized users.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modificationsand variations, all of which are within the scope of the appendedclaims; all the details may further be replaced with other technicallyequivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with thespecific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may beany according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2008A000124 fromwhich this application claims priority are incorporated herein byreference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed byreference signs, those reference signs have been included for the solepurpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordinglysuch reference signs do not have any limiting effect on theinterpretation of each element identified by way of example by suchreference signs.

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A columbarium, particularly for accommodatingcinerary urns, comprising a frame in which containment niches for saidcinerary urns are formed in a honeycomb arrangement, comprising a panelfor covering at least one portion of the face of said columbarium, ontowhich a plurality of openings for accessing said niches opens, means formoving said panel being provided which can be actuated for passing: froma first configuration, in which said panel covers said at least oneportion of the face, to conceal said access openings, to a secondconfiguration, in which said panel is spaced from said at least oneportion of the face, to expose said access openings, and vice versa. 17.The columbarium according to claim 16, comprising doors for closing saidaccess openings, which are hinged on said face and can be closedindependently of each other on said access openings.
 18. The columbariumaccording to claim 17, comprising locks for locking said doors closedonto said access openings of said niches, to prevent access to saidniches by unauthorized users.
 19. The columbarium according to claim 16,wherein said movement means comprise at least one hinge for connectingsaid panel to said frame.
 20. The columbarium according to claim 17,wherein said frame is substantially shaped like a parallelepiped and isvertical and has, proximate to its upper end, said panel hinged so thatit can oscillate, said movement means comprising means for supportingsaid panel when it is spaced by lifting from said face in said secondconfiguration, said niches also being shaped like parallelepipeds, theiraccess openings facing said face and being closable by said doors. 21.The columbarium according to claim 20, wherein said supporting meanscomprise pistons which are associated with said panel and with saidframe, substantially at said face, in said second configuration saidpistons supporting said panel, keeping it raised with respect to saidface.
 22. The columbarium according to claim 17, wherein said frame andsaid doors are made of stainless steel.
 23. The columbarium according toclaim 16, wherein said panel comprises a frame for supporting aconcealment plate for said niches in said first configuration.
 24. Thecolumbarium according to claim 23, wherein said concealment plate ismade of a transparent material and has a first substantially opaque facethat is directed toward said face in said first configuration.
 25. Thecolumbarium according to claim 24, wherein said first face has anillustration that is visible through the interior of said concealmentplate and faces a second face of said concealment plate that liesopposite said first face.
 26. The columbarium according to claim 23,wherein said concealment plate is made of plastic material.
 27. Thecolumbarium according to claim 26, wherein said plastic material ispolymethyl methacrylate or other plastic material that is transparent inuse.
 28. The columbarium according to claim 23, wherein said concealmentplate is made of morainic material.
 29. The columbarium according toclaim 21, wherein said pistons are of the gas-operated type.
 30. Thecolumbarium according to claim 16, wherein said frame comprises astabilizer step that protrudes from said face at the ground contactregion of said frame.